ORANJESTAD (AAN) – The inaugural AI for the People session was a major success, according to Simon Waslander, who has frequently discussed artificial intelligence in his weekly columns.
Waslander and Aaron Bislip believe that the benefits of artificial intelligence should be accessible to all residents of Aruba. With that goal in mind, they partnered with Centro di Bario Noord to organize the first AI for the People community session.
The event attracted a full audience and sparked lively discussions among participants about the opportunities, concerns, and future impact of artificial intelligence.
During the session, attendees explored the potential risks associated with AI, including its environmental impact when used irresponsibly. The organizers also explained how Large Language Models work, providing participants with a basic understanding of the technology behind many modern AI systems.
The event concluded with a brief introduction to prompt engineering, teaching participants practical techniques for obtaining better results from AI tools. Waslander and Bislip emphasized that digital literacy and AI skills will become increasingly important for Aruba’s future.
Several examples were presented during the session, including how AI can generate detailed policy reports in a short period of time and how it can assist students from lower-income families by creating additional learning exercises and study materials for subjects such as chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Due to the strong interest and limited time available during the inaugural event, additional sessions have already been scheduled. The next AI for the People session will take place at Centro di Bario Noord on June 25, followed by another session at Centro di Famia Piedra Plat on June 27.
The organizers stressed the importance of involving the entire community in the ongoing technological transformation driven by artificial intelligence and hope to help at least 5,000 people in Aruba develop a basic understanding of AI and the skills needed to use it effectively.
